Our review

Need to give your Qantas points a significant boost so that you can snag a long-haul award flight? The St. George Amplify Signature Credit Card pumps a very healthy 90,000 points into your account if you can meet a preliminary spending target and renew the card for a further year. There’s no points cap, and you can opt for Amplify Rewards points instead if you wish.

There’s a substantial $279 p.a. annual fee to pay, and the high purchase and cash advance interest rates (19.49% p.a. and 20.24% p.a. respectively) are typical for this kind of card. However, the recurring birthday bonus of 10% of your previous year’s points may encourage you to stay, and the regular points earning potential and complimentary insurance make it ideal for regular travellers.

Up to 90,000 points

Provided you can spend $3,000 in the first three months (an average of just $1,000 per month) your points account will get off to a flying start with 60,000 bonus points. You can choose either Qantas Frequent Flyer points or St. George’s own Amplify Rewards points. Renew your card for a further year by paying the second year annual fee, and you’ll receive a further gift of 30,000 points.

Choose Qantas points and the 90,000 points put you well on the way to a return economy flight to Europe or New York (120,000 points).

Choose Amplify Rewards and redeem your 90,000 points for about $400 worth of retail gift cards (88,800 points) or exchange them for frequent flyer points with three other airlines (excluding Qantas).

Points earning rates

The ongoing points earning rate is 1.5 Amplify points or 0.75 QFF points per dollar for all spending. This is far from being the best earning rate available, even for a Visa card, but the absence of a points cap does go some way towards compensating for the lower rate.

Flexibility

Instead of Qantas points, you can opt for St. George’s own Amplify Rewards program. Convert the Amplify points later to Virgin, Malaysian or Singapore Airlines if you prefer, at the rate 2.0 Amplify points = 1.0 frequent flyer point.

Using your points for flight benefits is much more cost effective than redeeming them for gifts (homewares, technology, DIY &c) and vouchers within the Amplify Rewards program itself. Most $50 retail gift cards, for example cost you 11,100 Amplify points requiring $7,400 of local spending and returning less than 0.5 cents per point.

Birthday benefits

St. George will make your birthday happier with a bonus of 10% of the points you earned in the previous year. So if your average card spending is $1,500 per month you will earn 13,500 Qantas points (27,000 Amplify points) and receive a birthday bonus of 1,350 Qantas points (2,700 Amplify points.

International travel benefits

Regular international travellers will get the most out of this card, even though the benefits are somewhat tarnished by the 3% international transaction fee.

The card comes with two single-visit lounge passes each year, to Priority Pass lounges if you choose Amplify points, or Qantas lounges (international business lounges only) if you choose QFF points.

To get an idea of the value of the Qantas lounge passes, it’s worth remembering that it currently costs $399 merely to join Qantas Club, plus a further $540 for each year’s membership.

There are only three Priority Pass lounges in Australia (in Brisbane, Darwin and Cairns) but more than 1,000 worldwide. If you’re doing enough international business trips to make this card worthwhile you’re probably already an airport lounge member, but at least you’ll be able to extend the comfort to someone flying with you.

Concierge and luxury hotels

Once again, you’ll need to be a frequent traveller or a higher-than-average spender to appreciate the concierge service and the automatic membership of the Visa Luxury Hotel Collection, offering extras such as best available rates, free Internet, complimentary breakfast and late checkout at 900 hotels worldwide.

Insurance

The full premium card insurance package is built into the Amplify Signature card:

Overseas travel – cover for you and your immediate family for trips of up to six months, including emergency medical expenses, unavoidable trip cancellation and rental car excess

Rental vehicle excess in Australia – you don’t need to be travelling to take advantage of this cover, which few other cards provide

Purchase cover – four months of protection against loss, theft or damage for new items bought with the card

Extended warranty – up to 12 extra months on top of the manufacturer’s Australian warranty

Price guarantee – get the purchase price difference refunded if you find it cheaper elsewhere within 21 days

The extensive multi-trip international travel insurance for a family would normally set you back about $750 per year. The total value of these insurance policies is estimated to be about $1,350 per year.

Who will benefit most from the St. George Amplify Signature Credit Card?

International travel insurance, airport lounge passes, luxury hotel and concierge benefits and the absence of a points cap make this an ideal card for big spenders who enjoy regular international travel. They should have no trouble recouping the cost of the relatively high annual fee, even when the bonus points have become a distant memory.

User reviews

3.8 out of 5.0 based on 5 reviews100% of reviewers would recommend this card

Rates and fees

Rewards

Customer service

Convenience

Trust

Reviews from users

I redeemed nearly $200 in one year

Reviewed and recommended by Sinthuja on 20 Sep 2016

I am happy with this card. There’s a good limit, double points, rewards, easy redemption and good service. It’s easy using NetBank,and easy to manage your card limit (increase/decrease).

So far so good — no long waiting time for approval and it was quickly delivered. Term and conditions are good, late fees lower, and ATM fees are good.

Pleased with this card so far

Reviewed and recommended by Deborah on 11 Jul 2016

I have always banked with St George and recently updated to the Amplify Credit Card as I previously only had a debit card. I feel happy with my rate and the St George app allows me to track my spending and payments effectively. I received a 0% annual fee for the first year. There are rewards associated with this card but I have not looked too much into them.

Bonus fee-free card from home loan package

Reviewed and recommended by William on 11 Dec 2016

It comes with the Advantage Package home loan. It has no fees, low rates, complimentary travel insurance, and you get perks like two Qantas lounge passes annually.

This is a great card if you like to travel. The extra perks are geared towards people that often travel overseas.

No fuss card

Reviewed and recommended by Faria on 10 Sep 2014

Certainly convenient if you’re looking to secure a home loan. Fast, easy and fuss free application process. Statements are not sent regularly, therefore you are unsure where you stand financially with this card. Recommend for certain loans such as home and car, otherwise I would stick with a more renowned bank.

Great rewards and benefits

Reviewed and recommended by Kathryn on 21 Sep 2016

This card has a really great rewards system and some really good benefits. Rewards and benefits are easy to access, and not confusing.

Fees are a little high, but it has a good interest-free period.

Overall I am very happy with this card, and would recommended it to others.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed about credit cards are the reviewer's alone, and do not reflect the views of Credit Card Compare or the credit card issuer. Reviews have not been approved or otherwise endorsed by Credit Card Compare.

Rewards & points

Cool stuff you can get with your points

Disclaimer: Does not include taxes, fees, or charges. Accurate as of 25th January 2016.

Rewards program basics

First purchase bonus‌

90,000 points

Reward points expiry‌

Never as long as you keep your account active

Rewards program‌

Amplify Qantas or Amplify Rewards

Spend required for bonus points‌

$5000 in 90 days

Earning points with this card

Frequent flyer points‌

0.75 pts per $1 spent (QFF)

Overseas earn rate‌

1.5 pts per $1 spent (Amplify)

Points cap per month‌

Unlimited

Points cap per year‌

Unlimited

Points earned on ATO payments‌

N/A

Reward points‌

1.5 pts per $1 spent (Amplify)

Additional benefits

Airport lounge access‌

Yes

Complimentary flight voucher‌

No

Concierge service‌

Yes

Benefits

This card comes with benefits worth an estimated $1,391

Shopping

Estimated value

Extended warranty

Valuation based on the assumption of making a $250 claim once every 5 years. There is no retail market for all-encompassing extended warranty insurance covering more than one item, so no premium saving.

$50

Guaranteed pricing / price protection insurance

Valuation based on the assumption of making a $100 claim once every 10 years. Extensive conditions apply. There is no retail market for this type of insurance, so no premium saving.

$10

Purchase protection

Valuation based on the assumption of making a $200 claim once every 5 years. There is no retail market for this type of insurance, so no premium saving.

$40

Travel

Interstate flight inconvenience insurance

Valuation based on similar domestic travel insurance policies available online that include interstate flight inconvenience.

$290

Overseas travel insurance

Valuation based on similar annual travel insurance policies available online for trips of up to 60 days.

$801

Rental vehicle excess cover (separate from travel insurance)

Valuation based on similar rental vehicle excess insurance policies available online.

$32

Transit accident insurance

Valuation based on similar global transit accident insurance policies available online.

$150

Waived Qantas Frequent Flyer joining fee

Valuation based on $89.50 Qantas Frequent Flyer joining fee spread over 5 years. Note that this benefit does not apply if cardholder chooses Amplify Rewards rather than Qantas Frequent Flyer points.

$18

Total estimated value

$1,391

Annual fee

$279

Net customer value

$1,112

Disclaimer: Details of who, what, and where coverage applies to, as well as its duration and any coverage limitations will be listed in the credit card insurance product disclosure statement (PDS) on the card issuer's website. The names/labels of complimentary insurance products may differ from one issuer to another. Terms and conditions apply. Always check the insurance PDS when considering a financial product. Accurate as of 31st October 2015.

Minimum criteria for this card

What you need before applying

Be over 18 years old

You are a resident or citizen of Australia

Earn a regular any weekly income

You have your personal details ready to complete the online application

Have not applied for multiple credit cards recently

Joint applications are allowed

Temporary residents are eligible

Age Pension,
Disability Pension and
Widower's Pension
are acceptable.

Family Tax Benefits and Parenting Payments
is acceptable.

Disclaimer: The minimum criteria pointers are intended only to be a guide. Your application may still be rejected by the bank even if you can answer 'Yes' to all the minimum criteria. The final decision regarding your application is up to the bank.